Mary-Ellen Nesi

09/07/2026

Last February, I had the great joy of performing once again Plans for the Summer, the wonderful song cycle by , set to poems by George Seferis.

I first performed this cycle at the beginning of my career, and I fell in love with it—quite understandably, I think! On both occasions, it was conducted by Nikos Tsouchlos. This time, he led the wonderful Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, and it was a special pleasure to collaborate with him again on this remarkable work.

There is something truly unique about working on a piece together with its composer—discussing interpretative ideas and even exploring the small improvisatory touches that the music itself inspires. It was an invaluable experience.

I also greatly enjoyed collaborating with the outstanding pianist , whose musicianship and artistry made this performance even more memorable.

Περικλής Κούκος: Σχέδια για ένα ΚαλοκαίριΚύκλος Τραγουδιών σε ποίη...

29/06/2026

It was incredible to hear almost 5,000 people cheering after tonight's performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 at the Odeon Herodes Atticus! It was also deeply moving to know that this was the last classical music concert at the Herodeon before it closes for restoration over the next three years. Congratulations to everyone!! It was a memorable evening!
With some of my fantastic colleagues after the concert. Unfortunately, mezzo soprano Anna Agathonos and tenor Mario Zeffiri are missing from the picture...

28/06/2026

Gustav and I, right before our dress rehearsal for tomorrow's concert of Mahler's Symphony No 8, Athens Epidaurus Festival with Κρατική Ορχήστρα Αθηνών / Athens State Orchestra, under the baton of Michal Nesterowicz.

22/06/2026

The stunning aria Du trouble affreux from Luigi Cherubini's Médée, in its original French version, from my solo album Archetypon.

Conductor: George Petrou
Armonia Atenea

Luigi Cherubini Medea- Du trouble affreuxSolo album ARCHETYPON Ma...

09/06/2026

Not to miss!!
Book your tickets now: https://koa.gr/en/events/athens-state-orchestra-michal-nesterowicz/

27/05/2026

In the upcoming season I'm making my debut in the wonderful role of la Messaggera in Monteverdi's L' Orfeo. It is a co-production of the Greek National Opera – Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή , the The Metropolitan Opera and the Glyndebourne, directed by William Kentridge, under the baton of Konstantinos Terzakis.

Η «Τραβιάτα» του Βέρντι επιστρέφει στο ΚΠΙΣΝ. Η ιστορία της Βιολέτας ζωντανεύει με συγκίνηση, πάθος και απαράμιλλη μουσική ομορφιά από την Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή.

22/05/2026

Although my solo album Archetypon was originally released in 2018, the record label MDG reissued it in order to renew and expand its audience. This excellent review comes from the Rhein Main Magazin (May 6/2026):

In English:
“Strong women, strong voice: MDG listeners will know Mary-Ellen Nesi from her outstanding recordings of Handel operas. The acclaimed mezzo-soprano presents thrilling arias from 18th-century masterpieces – most of them recorded here for the first time – inspired by ten Greek female archetypes. Accompanied by Armonia Atenea on period instruments
under the baton of George Petrou, Nesi imbues these multi-faceted female characters with a profound intensity that gets right under your skin from the very first to the very last note. (Rhein Main Magazin)

In German:
Starke Frauen, starke Stimme: MDG-Hörer kennen Mary-Ellen Nesi von ausgezeichneten Händel- Operneinspielungen. Die gefeierte Mezzosopranistin präsentiert aufregenden Arien aus Meisterwerken des 18. Jahrhunderts – die meisten davon hier zum ersten Mal aufgenommen – inspiriert von zehn griechischen weiblichen Archetypen. Unterstützt von Armonia Atenea auf historischen Instrumenten
unter der Leitung von George Petrou verleiht Nesi den vielschichtigen Frauengestalten eine tiefe Intensität, die vom ersten bis zum letzten Ton unmittelbar unter die Haut geht. (Rhein Main Magazin)

13/05/2026

A few months ago, I had the privilege of recording the remarkable Kassiani* by Dimitri Mitropoulos, set to a poem by George Seferis.
A deeply moving and powerful work, inspired by the figure of Saint Kassiani, it combines Byzantine spirituality with Mitropoulos’ unique musical language and dramatic intensity.

The recording was made with the under the direction of , as a co-production of the Greek National Opera – Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή and the Κρατική Ορχήστρα Θεσσαλονίκης - Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra.

*Kassiani is one of the most important early works by Dimitri Mitropoulos. It is a dramatic cantata inspired by the famous Byzantine hymn associated with Saint Kassiani, the 9th-century poet and hymnographer of the Orthodox Church.

The work sets a poem by George Seferis and reflects Mitropoulos’ deep connection with Greek spirituality and Byzantine musical tradition, while also revealing the intense expressionism and dramatic orchestral writing that later became characteristic of his music.

The music is highly emotional and theatrical, with large dynamic contrasts, dark orchestral colors, and an almost ritualistic intensity.

Although Mitropoulos became internationally famous primarily as a conductor — especially through his work with the New York Philharmonic — his own compositions are increasingly being rediscovered today, and Kassiani is considered one of the key examples of his original compositional voice.

Audio production and editing team:
•Alex Riadis: Sound engineer
•Antonis Sousamoglou: concertmaster of the TSSO, here in the role of tonmeister.
•Sofia Tamvakopoulou Head of Music Staff at the GNO, also in the role of tonmeister
•Christos Zorbas: mastering at Sierra Recordings S.A.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1wPtDkM8C1A92200Dddpzh?si=-JcT270oSdmc1_zycYSoGg

Dimitri Mitropoulos, Mary-Ellen Nesi, Kornilios Michailidis, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra · Songs for Voice and Orchestra · Song · 2026

01/05/2026

Emilios Riadis
GALATEA
Opera in three acts • World premiere recording
Language: French

Composer: Emilios Riadis
Libretto: Pierre-Charles Jablonski

Conductor: Vladimiros Symeonidis

Galateia: Mary-Ellen Nesi
Pygmalion: Yiannis Christopoulos
Rennos: Dionysis Sourbis
Menalkas: Manos Kokkonis
Old Servant: Konstantinos Katsaras

Κρατική Ορχήστρα Θεσσαλονίκης - Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra
Plovdiv Opera Choir
Chorus Master: Dragomir Yossifov
Children & Youth Choir of the Friends of Music Society of Thessaloniki
Choir training: Sophia Gioldas

Manuscript restoration – Orchestration completion – Editorial supervision: Vladimiros Symeonidis
Assistant editors: Christos Dovas, Constantinos Lykoyriotis
Libretto editor: Alexandros Efklidis

Producer, digital editing: Antonis Sousamoglou
Tonmeisterin: Sofia Tamvakopoulou
Sound engineering, Mix, Mastering: Alexandros Raidis

Co-production: Thessaloniki State Orchestra – Greek National Opera – Thessaloniki Concert Hall Organization
Recording venue: Thessaloniki Concert Hall | Recording dates: 13–16 May 2024

29 likes, 3 comments. "Αιμίλιος Ριάδης: Γαλάτεια | Emilios Riadis: Galatea | GNO Recordings Series"

25/04/2026

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 8, “Symphony of a Thousand”
Coproduction by Athens State Orchestra and Athens Epidaurus Festival
Mon. 29 June 2026 21:00
Odeon of Herodes Atticus

https://koa.gr/en/events/athens-state-orchestra-michal-nesterowicz/